GLS580 4MATIC

My brother, who occasionally appears on this blog, bought a car, as usual.

In this issue.Mercedes-Benz GLS580 4MATIC Sport Shofar Package The GLS580 is already gone from the Japanese lineup at the time of writing this blog. At the time of writing, the GLS580 is already gone from the Japanese lineup, and the GLS400D and AMG's GLS63 seem to be the only new cars currently available.

I used to be aI have considered purchasing a GLS400d and have test driven one.At the time, I remember being disappointed by how light and easy the car felt to drive, and feeling that it lacked a bit of heft for a Mercedes with an "S" in its name.

The main difference between the GLS580 and the GLS400d is, of course, the powertrain, but there is another major difference.

that isMust have Mercedes' latest suspension, E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL with Dynamic Curve function.The first is.

Unfortunately, this suspension could not be equipped on the Japanese version of the GLS400d, but only on the GLS580. At the time, theIf only this could have been put on the GLS400d, I would have felt disappointed.I remember well that

I will review the difference in impression from GLS400d and E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (with Dynamic Curve function) as well as other impressions.

As usual.Since this blog will only focus on reviews of "driving", please refer to other media that explain in detail the evaluation of usability and interior space.

Appearance and running impression

When I saw the GLS parked in the parking lot, it was indeed huge. It was just barely able to fit in the slot of the coin-operated parking lot, and from the side, it looked like an "elephant.

With its overwhelming presence, theIt wears an extraordinary sense of luxury and atmosphere.Climbing up to the rather high driver's seat and settling into the seat, one is confronted with a luxurious and opulent interior. As one would expect from Mercedes' top-of-the-line SUV.

All kinds of comfort equipment is almost always included, and there is no particular need to be troubled.

Plenty of sheets ofSeats with many adjustment points on the seat surface are really comfortableIt is a car for long-distance driving. It is truly a car for long-distance driving.

I started the engine and drove off slowly.Light!Thanks in part to the ISG (electric motor for assist), the car moves forward with ease.In addition, the steering wheel is light.The feeling is that the driver is not sure whether he is driving a large car or a small car.

At first, I wondered if this was a light feeling like I felt with the GLS400d. Then, the speed was increased. Then, around 40 km/h or 50 km/h, the driver begins to feel a moist ground feel and a sense of weightiness from the steering wheel, which he did not feel in the GLS400d.

."Oh, that's pretty good!I was talking to my brother," he said, as he headed up the mountain road.

From the city to the winding road

Driving through the city with heavy traffic and heading for the mountain roads.It takes a little getting used to because the response of the rising torque at startup is so good.The car would start off with a lot of force unless the accelerator pedal was pressed very slowly. We drove the car at low speed over uneven pavement at the site of construction to check the suspension movement.

I'd try running in comfort mode first.At low speeds, such as in the streets of Japan, a slight pull-like vibration remains.This may be because it is an air suspension, but it bothers me a little. This may be unavoidable to some extent because of the air suspension, but it bothers me because I have high expectations for Mercedes' top-of-the-line SUV.

Frankly.In city driving, the BMW X7 35d, which I have test-driven before, rides better, and compared to the Cayenne, the Cayenne is more moist with more rolling tires.I think.

However, this is not the case.Comparison at a fairly high-level, heavy-duty level.I hope you understand that. Of course, I should add that almost no one would say that the ride quality of the GLS is bad in a normal car, and that it is comfortable enough.

Next, we tried driving in Curve mode with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL enabled. The system uses a camera to check the road conditions ahead and controls the 48V electro-hydraulic units for each of the four wheels, as well as the electronically controlled dampers and air springs of the air suspension system, but at low speeds it is not that different from the Comfort Mode.

Proceed through the city to a tight winding section.

With such a large SUV with such a high ride height, this is not a road you want to drive on.When driving in comfort mode, the roll is indeed large.It still does not drive as sporty as the Cayenne at all. The car tilts considerably, and if you are not careful, the trajectory of the car will bulge outward.

When I put it in Sport mode for a test, the legs get a little stiffer, but the shaking is still significant.If you have a family or other passengers, you need to be aware of the level of driving without lateral Gs as much as possible.The first is.

And then...Turn on Curve mode againI'll try to make it so.

Then, the GLS will be different from what it has been. "make a differenceI often use the expression, "the car has changed," but this time the level of the change is different. It is hard to believe that this is the same car.The car does not shake at all on the winding mountain road, which is driven at 30 km/h to 50 km/h.And it does not lean. It is like a sports car, or even more than a sports car, with no roll.

This E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL prevents occupant sway by tilting the vehicle inward at corners, and the effect is tremendous. It is as if the vehicle is driving on a curve with a cant, and it is truly a "ride of a lifetime".Magic carpetThe PDCC is an electronic stabilizer that reduces roll by hardening or loosening the stabilizer. PDCC in Porsche and other cars also has the effect of reducing roll, but it is an electronically controlled stabilizer that reduces roll by hardening or loosening the stabilizer.

However, theIn the case of this E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, the suspension on the outside of a curve is instantly extended to control the body tilt to balance the centrifugal force.The first is the "I" in "I".

So it's really flat.

Incidentally, the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL has a setting that allows the driver to choose the strength of the effect, and we tested the middle setting, which we think is just the right natural setting for winding roads in Japan. When the speed is increased a little more, a slight roll is allowed.Therefore, it is advisable to set the strength of the Curve mode according to the speed range.

Engine Impressions

Impressed by the excellence of Curve mode, I drive through the mountain road and open the accelerator pedal on a little straight line.

Even with the V8 twin-turbo's 489 hp, it is not as fast as the horsepower value would suggest because of the heavy chassis.That said, it does not feel underpowered at all.It would be a sufficient acceleration in any situation.

In addition, theThere is no turbo lag of any kind.The slight gap before the turbo kicks in is probably due to the ISG's good assist. The torque is so strong that it makes you forget that it is a turbocharged engine, and it is as easy to handle as an old Mercedes 5-liter V8 NA engine. The fact that the driver does not have to worry about unnecessary things in this way is typical of Mercedes.

What struck me about this engine was its sound.Quite good sound.It has the sloppy, pleasant sound that is typical of Mercedes V8s, and the engine sound is heard well even when moving around town.

If you put it in sport mode, the sound gets even louder and sounds quite sporty. My brother, who has also owned a few AMG vehicles, says, "Sound is so good that I don't think AMG is necessaryThe sound of the V8 is very pleasant and is recommended for those who like the feeling of that Mercedes V8. It is indeed a pleasant sounding engine, and is recommended for those who like the feeling of that Mercedes V8.

Impression on undulating road surface

The road surface at Ashiu Tunnel, a tunnel in Ashiu Driveway, is quite undulating. This is also an ideal surface for checking straight line stability, but in the case of GLS580, the impression is quite different when driving in Comfort mode and Curve mode.

As mentioned above, at low speeds in the city, I could not tell much difference between the two.The difference becomes clear when the speed is increased to a certain degree.

In Comfort mode, you can see that the body moves up and down to a certain degree in response to road surface undulation, but when driving in Curve mode, there is less shaking. This is quite obvious. The actual movement of the suspension can be checked on the monitor, and it can be clearly seen that the legs are firmly extending and contracting in response to the undulation. The level of straight line stability at this time is quite high.

While the ride is flat enough in comfort mode.If you want an even flatter ride, you should have this E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL.This is the kind of ride that deserves the title of "S" from Mercedes.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

This car is definitely an SUV with an emphasis on luxury, and while it can be driven sporty in Curve mode, it is only a luxury ride.

If you really want to go fast too, you should choose the AMG version of the GLS63Id.

It seems to focus more on comfort on roads with a certain high speed range, such as country roads and highways, than on city streets. Therefore, I felt that in urban areas in Japan, where people tend to drive at very low speeds, the settings may deviate a little from the norm.

It depends on what you are looking for in such a large SUV, but I think the GLS is the best choice for comfortable long-distance grand touring with the family. The true essence of the GLS lies in its E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL.

Too bad we can't choose GLS580 with it now.However, we hope that Mercedes-Benz Japan, the importer of the GLS400d, will make this option available for the GLS400d as well.

It is a shame that such a great option is not available in the Japanese market.

I personally would love to drive a Mercedes SUV with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL again someday when it comes back.